Knifeman dressed as the Joker injures 17 people in Tokyo train rampage before setting carriage on fire

A KNIFEMAN dressed as the Joker went on a stabbing spree that left 17 people injured on a Tokyo train today.

The suspected attacker ran amok among passengers before lighting a fire on a carriage during a horrifying rampage.

Cops were scrambled to the subway in the Japanese capital earlier today to reports of a suspected knifemanCredit: Reuters Passengers were forced to flee through train windows after a knifeman dressed as The Joker went on a rampageCredit: Reuters

People scrambled to escape through the train's windows as the horror unfolder struck around 8pm local time (11am GMT), police and witnesses said.

Tokyo's Fire Department said 17 passengers were injured, including three seriously.

The alleged attaker was believed to have sprayed hydrochloric acid inside the first and second cars of the train before setting them on fire.

Police have arrested a 24-year-old man over the attack inside the Keio train near the Kokuryo station.

TRAIN ATTACK HORROR

A video posted on social media showed more than a dozen people fleeing a burning carriage and huddling at the end of the next train car.

Footage posted on social media appears to show the alleged attacker dressed like the Joker in the Batman films.

A male passenger in his 60s or 70s lost consciousness after being stabbed as the chilling attack unfolded.

Other passengers suffered minor injuries including smoke inhalation, the police said.

The suspect reportedly poured out a liquid resembling oil before setting fire to it and torching the seats.

One witness told the Yomiuri newspaper they saw the attacker wielding a blood-stained knife.

They said: "I thought it was a Halloween stunt.Then, I saw a man walking this way, slowly waving a long knife."

'HORRIFYING'

Shunsuke Kimura, who filmed a video of the incident, told Japan's public broadcaster NHK he saw passengers fleeing before hearing an explosion.

He jumped from a window in a desperate bid to escape, but fell on the platform and hurt his shoulder.

He said: "Train doors were closed and we had no idea what was happening, and we jumped from the windows

"It was horrifying."

I thought it was a Halloween stunt.Then, I saw a man walking this way, slowly waving a long knife

A witness

Cops were seen entering the carriage where the suspect was seated.

The man reportedly didn't resist as he was arrested and taken into custody.

It's the second time in two months a knifeman has attacked passengers on a commuter train in the Japanese capital.

In August, at least 10 people were injured after a man went on a stabbing rampage.

The suspect later told police that he wanted to attack women who looked happy.

Three people were seriously inured during the horrifying rampageCredit: Reuters Dozens of emergency services workers were scrambled to the ssceneCredit: AFP Footage posted on social media appears to show the attacker dressed like the Joker - seen here played by Heath Ledger - in the Batman filmsCredit: Alamy

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